MARCQ-EN-BAROEUL, FRANCE — Fourteen countries are set to compete in Lesaffre’s Masters de la Boulangerie competition, which will take place Feb. 3-6, 2018, at the Europain exhibition in Villepinte, Paris. The event’s theme is, “Inspire today, create tomorrow.”
“The exceptional, international Masters de la Boulangerie competition sees the bakery elite compete, which gives the profession prestige and projects it into the future,” Lesaffre said. “During their training and the competition cycle, the Masters de la Boulangerie candidates have acquired rare and unique international bakery skills. Through the competition, these men and women will share with bakers around the world the fruits of their research, their ideas and reflections — and also their passion. Modern baking is in their hands.”
Twelve candidates, along with six “wild card” candidates, have been selected to compete in the three-day competition in three categories: nutritional bread making, gourmet baking and artistic bread making. Only three candidates, one per specialty, will win the title of “World Master Baker 2018.” Currently, only six bakers in the world hold this title.
America’s representatives are Jeffrey De Leon and Jacob Baggentstos. Mr. De Leon is the group pastry chef for Farmshop in Santa Monica, Calif., and will be competing in the Gourmet Baking specialty. Mr. Baggenstos is the pastry chef at Bakery Nouveau in Seattle and will be competing in the Artistic Bread Making specialty.
